The following are typical fertilizers that can be used to satisfy potassium and phosphorus requirements. While each fertilizer category listed can meet your nutrient requirements, each has specific advantages/disadvantages, along with a range of positive and negative environmental impacts. It is up to you to determine the best choice for you and your particular gardening situation.

To determine how much nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) the fertilizer you choose delivers, use the Fertilizer Calculator.

1. Starter Fertilizer (1:1 or ~1:1.5 N:P₂O₅ ratios)
   1. Sample analysis: 18-24-12, 24-24-4
   2. For example, two applications of 18-24-12 would deliver 2.6 lbs. P₂O₅ which would meet the P recommendations for the lowest soil test P level (1 ppm) but would only deliver 1.4 lbs. K₂O. For K soil tests less than 80 ppm additional K applications would be required.
   3. Advantage: The main advantage of using starter fertilizer products is that they are generally not 100% fast release nitrogen sources and they will meet the P recommendation with fewer applications than other fertilizers.
   4. Disadvantage: products with these analyses require multiple applications over several years to meet K recommendations.
   5. Alternative is to use starter fertilizers to meet P recommendations and then use potash (KCl) to meet K recommendations.

OR

2. Natural Organic Fertilizer
   1. Sample analysis: 27-2-2, 10-2-6, 11-2-2, 15-2-7, 8-1-1
   2. For example, a 10-2-6 fertilizer applied 4 times/year for 4 years supplies 2.4 lbs. P₂O₅ (meets P recommendation for lowest soil test value) and 7.2 lbs. K₂O (supplies more than enough K to meet recommendation for lowest soil test value).
   3. Advantage: slow release N sources
   4. Disadvantage: These products are typically not high enough in P and K (based on typical N rate applications of 1 lb. N/1000 ft.²/ application) to reach recommended rates to correct deficiencies in 1 or 2 years. Using these fertilizers will require multiple applications over multiple years.

OR

3. "Triple" Fertilizer (1:1:1 N:P₂O₅:K₂O ratios)
   1. Sample analysis: 12-12-12, 10-10-10, 16-16-16
   2. For the lowest soil test P levels, triple products could apply the recommended P rate in one year with at the most 2.5 applications (based on 1 lb. N/1000 ft.²/application rates).
   3. For the lowest K soil test levels, triple products could apply the recommended K rate in one year with 4 applications.
   4. Advantage: low cost and can meet most recommended P and K rates with two to four applications in a single year.
   5. Disadvantage: 100% fast release N, surge growth of turf, top-growth at the expense of root growth.

Organic matter in your soil is 6.4%. Your soil has an adequate level of organic matter and no further actions need to be taken. To maintain organic matter in this range make sure to return clippings to the lawn. Organic matter is a source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium so you may be able to eliminate a fertilizer application and maintain adequate turfgrass quality and density.

No lime needed.

No adjustment of the soil pH is necessary. Most lawns grow fine at a soil pH of 6.0 and above

Nitrogen fertilization programs have been separated according to maintenance requirements and expectations for the lawn.

High maintenance situations are considered to be where a high quality, uniform, dense lawn is desired and an irrigation system is available.

The medium maintenance situation is for most general lawn areas where no supplemental irrigation will be applied, but the intention is to optimize turf growth for quality and density.

The low maintenance situation is intended for lawn areas where the lowest level of input to maintain turfgrasses for a stable surface is desired.

Recommendations for the amount of nitrogen and time of application for each maintenance level (low, medium, high) are listed below in the Timing Chart.

Home Lawn Fertilization Timing Chart

Pounds of Nitrogen Per 1000 ft.² of Lawn